Two for the Lions

Working alongside the reptilian Chief Spy Anacrites on the Emperor's Great Census of AD 73 is already a trial for Marcus Didius Falco, but when a prize lion-fighting gladiator is found murdered, the investigation into the gladiators' world and its bitter rivalries pulls Falco away from his census duties and toward the blood-soaked arenas of Rome and North Africa. Lindsey Davis's tenth Falco novel extends the series' reach to the North African provinces while maintaining the sardonic Roman procedural voice that has made the series distinctive.

Simon Prebble brings his long familiarity with Falco's voice to this entry with ease, making the Roman world and the gladiatorial milieu vivid through voice alone. His delivery suits the novel's CWA Ellis Peters Award-winning blend of historical accuracy and character-driven comedy. At just over twelve hours, this is a satisfying entry in Davis's long-running series that earns its globe-trotting finale.